Establishment, annual yield and nitrogen response of eight perennial grasses in a high country environment

Abstract

An experiment was established within the Lees Valley
(400 m a.s.l.), Canterbury out of low producing, browntop
dominant grassland. The aim was to quantify dry matter
(DM) production of improved perennial grasses in relation
to temperature and nitrogen inputs. Ten grass
monocultures were established in 2006. For the first
year, annual DM yield ranged from 4.2 t/ha (timothy) to
10.6 t/ha (‘Aries’ perennial ryegrass). On 15/8/2007 either
0 or 150 kg N/ha was applied to half of each plot. At the
end of the spring 2007, yields were 1.3 t/ha (‘Aries’ no
N fertiliser) to 5.5 t/ha (‘Revolution’ perennial ryegrass
with N fertiliser). Yield responses ranged from 8.3 to
20.1 kg DM/kg N applied with an average spring growth
rate of 3.2 kg DM/ha/°Cd for grass with no N and 8.8 kg
DM/ha/°Cd for the N fertilised grasses, using a base
temperature of 3°C. Results highlighted the need to
maximise spring growth in summer dry environments,
especially when there is a large potential response to the
addition of N. Cocksfoot and tall fescue produced more
DM in summer dry conditions indicating some
opportunity to spread production through the year, in
regions with highly variable summer rainfall.... [Show full abstract]